Teenage schoolmates Loz Hardy and Myles Howell formed the group during their year off after school. They placed an advertisement for a drummer, and eventually recruited the significantly older John Andrew. Andrew was an ex-travelling puppeteer. The band began playing and touring, before making their recording debut with The Celebrated Working Man EP. After this they signed up to Chrysalis Records and released a second EP, entitled Idiots at the Wheel in January 1992. They were also immediately courted by the music press, and they invented a niche category for the band, which they dubbed "New Cool Rock".
With a fan following building up, and lyrical austerity in their melodic music, they were tipped by some as the "next big thing". Their debut album, Eat Yourself Whole was well received, and spent three weeks in the UK Album Chart, reaching a high of number twenty-nine in October 1991. In addition, the single release of the album's title track, "Eat Yourself Whole", reached the U.K. Top Twenty.
They then landed an American record deal with Chrysalis. Kingmaker's second album, Sleepwalking was released in 1993, to general acclaim. Hardy's songwriting prowess seemed to have grown in inverse proportion to their stature. Certainly the songs on Sleepwalking, primarily located in Hardy's bitter world, far surpassed anything on the debut album, and outshone the early singles that had won them most attention. The album starts off with "Playground Brutality", a sad, emotional song about bullying in schools. This sets the tone for the songs to follow, which cover a broad range of subjects such as death, anarchy and injustice.
However, despite their promising debut, the band rapidly fell out of favour. Paul Heaton of local stars The Beautiful South heavily criticised them as being middle class pretenders, and the rot set in thereafter.
Their final album, In the Best Possible Taste emerged in 1995, within one month of the death of the disc jockey Kenny Everett, who had popularised the phrase. Whilst tracks such as "One False Move" revealed a subtle shift towards urban rockabilly, the band called it quits after touring later the same year.
2. Kingmaker is a 5 piece hardcore band from Lake County IL. With members ranging from 17 to 19, it’s hard to believe that such a pissed off heavy sound could come out of some teenagers. Debuting their 6 song EP “Catacomb” recorded in guitarist Andy Eclov’s basement, the band not only shows that it’s possible for the youth of modern times to go against the grain of cookie cutter bullshit bands the suburbs spawns, but that hardcore is still alive and well today. Being the first EP any of them has recorded, there is still much room for improvement, but having only been a band for 2 months and putting out music of this quality speaks for itself. My favorite thing about this band thus far is the fact that they can put out music that makes you want to kill the person next to you, but they do it with a smile on their faces because they integrate what most bands fail to into the music, having fun. Get ready for Kingmaker kiddies, these boys are out for blood. - grizzly
Armchair Anarchist
Kingmaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I'm being totally honest
In fact,
just the other morning
I was planning a bombing
Firstly,
The House Of Lords
Then on to the BRIT Awards
singing
"Bomb the idiots"
"Bomb all the idiots NOW!"
"Bomb the idiots"
"Bomb all the idiots NOW!"
I'm a public enemy
The gallows is where it'll have to be
And there'll be no remorse
For all the panic that I have caused
Just as I light the fuse wire
I can just picture the headlines
"Viva dynamite"
"Viva dynamite OH!"
"Viva dynamite"
"Viva dynamite OH!"
To move the world in some way
Without leaving any bad taste
In the mouth of the human race
The human race
I'm a young transvestite
I wear clothes that women like
In fact I've got a lovely silken blouse
That just gets me so aroused
What do you think of me?
What do you think of me NOW!
What do you think of me?
What do you think of me NOW!
What will you do to me
What will you do to me NOW!
Why don't you shoot me
Take a gun and shoot me DOWN!
'cause I've lost all faith
In the human race
Or is it just another bad day?
The lyrics of Kingmaker's song Armchair Anarchist depict a person who identifies himself as a marked anarchist who plans to carry out a bombing. His main targets are the House of Lords and the BRIT Awards. He is a public enemy and does not regret causing panic. When he lights the fuse wire, he can visualize the headlines that will follow. He sings "Viva dynamite" as he pictures the explosion. The lyrics also talk about how he is a young transvestite who wears clothes that women like, and he asks the listener, "What do you think of me?" and "What will you do to me now?" His belief in the human race has been lost, and he wonders if it's just another bad day.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a marked anarchist
I identify as an anarchist and am therefore targeted for scrutiny by authorities.
Yes, I'm being totally honest
I am serious and genuine in my admission of being an anarchist.
In fact, just the other morning, I was planning a bombing
I recently plotted to carry out a bomb attack.
Firstly, the House of Lords; Then on to the BRIT Awards
I had specific plans to target the House of Lords and then the BRIT Awards event.
Singing 'Bomb the idiots', 'Bomb all the idiots NOW!'
I chant 'Bomb the idiots' repeatedly in a call to action for others to join me in terrorist activities.
I'm a public enemy; The gallows is where it'll have to be; And there'll be no remorse; For all the panic that I have caused; Just as I light the fuse wire; I can just picture the headlines
I acknowledge that I will be persecuted as a criminal and face execution without regret for the chaos I have incited, and anticipate news coverage of my violent act.
'Viva dynamite', 'Viva dynamite OH!'
I shout 'Long live dynamite' in celebration and glorification of explosive violence.
To move the world in some way; Without leaving any bad taste; In the mouth of the human race; The human race
My goal is to make a lasting impact on the world without creating negative consequences for humanity as a whole.
I'm a young transvestite; I wear clothes that women like; In fact, I've got a lovely silken blouse; That just gets me so aroused
I am a person who enjoys wearing clothing commonly associated with women, and find sexual pleasure in doing so.
What do you think of me? What do you think of me NOW!; What will you do to me? What will you do to me NOW!; Why don't you shoot me? Take a gun and shoot me DOWN!
I challenge others to judge and harm me due to my unconventional behavior and preferences.
'Cause I've lost all faith in the human race; Or is it just another bad day?
I express disappointment and disillusionment with humanity and question whether this is just another negative experience in a larger pattern of negativity.
Contributed by Jasmine O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.